Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-06-05
The Prorectiou,sr Dilemma
PHILADELPHIA Press.

ShiadeIphla PresS.
The necessity OF reducing taxation hs:
placed the advocates of protective tariff
in very unpleasant dilemma. They
would like to adopt one of three courses
to get rid of the surplus if they had the
power:
l. To increase expenditure;
2. To raise the tariff on certain articles
so as to make it prohibitory, and thus
reduce revenue, or,
8. To repeal the taxes on whisky and
tobacco. The first expedient would be
covered by new pension legislation, the
scheme OF national education, river and
bsrbor bills snd coast Notifications. Such
expenditure would, of course ,perpetuate,
and perhaps increase, the present rate of
taxation.
The second plan of increasing the duty
on wool and wOolens, iron, steel, tin.
plate and other revenue producing srti-
cles would cut sway the surplus by re-
ducfng importatioDs, but would not re-
duce taxation. It would merely divert
the money that now goes to the treasury
into the pockets of protected monopo-
lists. The cost OF living would be in
creased by an advance in the price of
cloths, implements, tinWare and other
neCessaries
The third plan, which is the most
feasible In the present temper of the peo-
pie, would reduce taxation in direction
where it is least burdensome and obiec-
tiOnable, in order to retain it undisturbed
upon lumber, wool, rice, steel rails,
hemp, jute, cosl, iron ore, copper, salt
and other articles Of necessity. This is
the Randall game.
Failing to save the sacred tariff by any
of these devices, the last resort would
be reduction of the sugar duty. But
for the fear of dividing their forces.
probably g reduction of the sugar duty
would be preferred by ultra protcctionists
to the reduction of the tax on whisky and
tcbscco. The question lies between
offending the pTohibitionists, who do not
object to taxing whisky, and offending
the sugar interests.
1t IS most unfortunate thing for Re
publican prospects that the nece ssity for
tax reduction should force itself upon the
country for decision on the eve of anOth-
er presidential election. The people de-
msnd relief, and en- opportunity is offered
by reducing oneroUs tariff duties to sweep
away the surplus of SI00, 000. 600 collected
IL SANSSS VI requirement. dlt III LQe same
time TO alleviate taxation to an equal ex-
tent by reducing the price Of the neces-
saries OF living. Tie opportunity is q
great one, and the way 10 meet it is so
obvious that no statesman uncrippled by
the espOusal of false economic principles
could hesitate as to the proper course.
But the Republican party, tied fsst 10
policy of accident rsther than conviction,
proposes to peryert the taxing power OF
the government to the perpetual main
tenanCe of industries which for the last
quarter OF century have been carried on
at the public cost. The Democratic
party, on the contrary, propose to cut
down the 0verplus of revenue ia such man
ner as to give the greatest possible relief
70 the taxpayer. II the voters shalltever
DE made to clearly understand the differ
ence between having taxation reduced at
the custom houses by increasing the cost
of living and having it reduced at the
custom houses 50 as TO decrease the cost
of living, that will be The beginning of the
end of the humbug of protection.